Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has boldly proclaimed that tokenization—the process of converting real-world assets into blockchain-based digital tokens—will fundamentally “eat” the traditional financial system, replacing outdated infrastructure with efficient, 24/7 global markets. Speaking at the Future of Fintech conference on October 2, 2025, Tenev forecasted a $50 trillion opportunity by 2030 for tokenized assets, starting with stocks, bonds, and ETFs on Robinhood’s platform. For fintech innovators, blockchain developers, and market strategists searching Robinhood tokenization eat financial system, Vlad Tenev tokenized assets 2025, or $50 trillion tokenization opportunity, Tenev’s vision—echoing BlackRock’s Larry Fink calling tokenization the “next generation for markets”—positions Robinhood to lead the charge with tokenized ETFs launching in 2026, potentially revolutionizing settlement times from days to seconds and unlocking trillions in liquidity. As the $3.9 trillion crypto market matures, Tenev’s prediction aligns with a wave of institutional adoption, though challenges like regulation and interoperability loom.
Tenev’s remarks, delivered alongside BlackRock’s Rob Goldstein, come as Robinhood reports a 25% revenue jump to $1.4 billion in Q2 2025, fueled by crypto trading volumes exceeding $100 billion monthly.
Tenev’s Vision: Tokenization as the ‘Next Generation’ for Finance
Tenev envisions tokenization transforming illiquid assets into 24/7 tradable digital tokens, slashing settlement times and costs while enabling fractional ownership. “Tokenization will eat the financial system,” he stated, predicting it will “unlock $50 trillion in value by 2030” through tokenized ETFs, real estate, and private equity. This echoes BlackRock’s Fink, who in April 2025 called tokenization “the next generation for markets,” estimating $16 trillion in tokenized funds by 2030.
